23 August 1967
Today, Father learned of Andromeda's choice of friends. While we were in Flourish and Blott's, gathering our books for the new school year, that Tonks boy ran up to her. He had the audacity to introduce himself to Father, who was less than pleased. I would not have wanted to trade places with my middle sister at that moment. His scrutiny was daunting, but she did not cower. She spoke to the boy as if he was dismissed, and Father scowled at her but nodded his approval. I think he recognized her actions for the farce they represented, but he did not want to broach the subject in public.
The pair, however, have not exited the dungeons since we returned from Diagon Alley. I fear for her. I am sure that the consequences for her associations will be quite severe.
I feel I am not the only Black sister eager to return to Hogwarts this fall. After her punishment, Andy will likely be itching to leave the confines of Black Manor. Cissy is the only one who appears to be immune to the tension that has poisoned our home. I pray to Circe that she stays oblivious to this change. This is not a storm meant for children to endure. My hope is that when it comes - whatever this man has planned - it goes by quickly and does not leave us crumbled in the wake of its destruction. If it comes down to it, I do not know if I can betray my sisters to support any cause. They will be my first priority. I will protect them, even if it means I lose my life. Or even my magic. Blood traitor or not.
Hermione slammed the book shut, infuriated by the broken promises on the page. Bellatrix had done nothing to save her sisters. She betrayed them. She stood by when Cygnus cast Andromeda out of the house, and she supported Voldemort's infiltration of her baby sister's home. She let them down. She deserved to lose her magic.
In her fit of rage, Hermione had done the unspeakable: thrown a book across the room. It sat on the floor, mocking her loss of control. She attempted to take a calming breath, but it came out as a sob. She hated that woman with everything inside of her, but she also recognized that the circumstances must have been unsurmountable for her to have abandoned her sisters. She seemed to love them fiercely. Her curiosity urged her to speak with Andromeda, but she could not force herself to confront the older witch about such a painful topic.
She needed answers. The book seemed to stare at her each night as she prepared for bed, begging her to open it again. If she didn't know better, she would suspect that it had a magical aura that compelled readers to dive into its pages, but it was quite the opposite in reality. Before reading the book, she was forced to break through the protective charms that kept unsolicited readers out. Now, she could not get enough.
Bellatrix was brilliant. The notes she made in the margins of the text had Hermione enraptured. Her understanding of potioneering and spellwork was well beyond the knowledge of most fifth year students. Some of the hypothesized concepts she scribbled in the corners of her diary had since been implemented in Hermione's textbooks. Her theories had been proven to be correct. Why were none of them attributed to her? Hermione strictly recalled that her name had never been mentioned in a textbook. None of her accomplishments were tied to her in any way unless they were malevolent.
Hermione was eager to discover the moment where Bellatrix lost herself. Was it greed? Had the Dark Lord offered her more galleons than she could refuse? Or did he come to her with promises that she would be his right hand? Did the opportunity for power lure her in? Hermione could not connect the dots. From what she had read, Bellatrix was fiercely loyal to her family, especially her sisters. It seemed as if nothing could pull her away from them.
Sighing in frustration, the brunette retrieved the fallen book and tucked it under her arm. It was then that she noticed the small bag of golden powder lying on the floor. It must have fallen out of the book when she tossed it. The two objects had become a part of her daily ritual. She tucked the small bag inside of the back cover of the book before descending into the kitchen. It was her last day at the Tonks Estate, and she knew that Andromeda would be bursting with energy.
When she entered the kitchen, she was not surprised to find the Tonks matriarch busy fixing what appeared to be a feast. The older woman did not hear Hermione enter the kitchen, so the brunette took a moment to observe her. The age lines that marred her skin had all but disappeared since Hermione moved in only a month ago. She appeared to have more energy, and she was drinking less and less by the day. Hermione worried that Andromeda might relapse when she left, but she also could not hold herself accountable for the older woman's well-being.
Taking the position at Hogwarts was a step in the right direction for herself. She would visit the Tonks residence when she had time, but she had to put herself first for now. She had spent too much time traversing in the wrong direction. It was time that she finally did something that would benefit her rather than making things worse. She knew that Andy would support her in this, even if it hurt her. Hermione just hoped it would not harm the older woman too severely.
Teddy's cooing drew Hermione out of her thoughts. He had spotted her and was frantically waving his arms, seeming eager for her attention.
The commotion drew Andromeda's attention to Hermione's stalling in the doorway. She peered over one shoulder, grinning at the younger woman as she continued to stir the pot in front of her. "Good morning, Hermione. Did you sleep well?"
The young witch nodded, though her answer was far from the truth. She had spent much of the night pouring over various books and only slept for a few hours in the morning before rising. "Thank you so much for giving me a place to stay for the last month, Andy. I really appreciate it."
Andromeda gave the younger witch a sad smile. "You know this isn't goodbye, right, Hermione? This place will always be your home, but I understand that Hogwarts is also your home. You're welcome here anytime you would like. That doesn't stop just because you have this new opportunity." The older woman smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. "Now, get over here. Come eat, but give Teddy some love first. He is going to miss his Aunt Hermione." Andy began to set the table as she watched Hermione approach her grandson.
Hermione returned Andy's smile, not wanting to ruin the moment. She scooped Teddy out of his high chair and held him close to her chest. "You're a sweet boy, Teddy. I am going to miss you so much, but I will come back and see you again. I promise." As she finished her statement, she looked towards the older woman, who had her eyes locked on the young witch. She gave the older woman a nod as she cuddled the boy. "I'll be back. Your Gramma is right, Teddy. This is not goodbye. It is merely so long for now." She held him at arms length and grinned as he vigorously pumped his little legs. "Who knows? Maybe I'll be teaching at Hogwarts by the time you are ready to attend. Wouldn't that be great?" She kissed the top of his head then and placed him back in his high chair.
"That would be great, so you better study hard while you're there. I know I don't need to tell you to do that, but just don't let yourself get distracted by everything outside of Hogwarts. Just focus on your job and your studies, and I know you'll do great."
Hermione laughed then as she sat in her usual position. "I know, Andy. You sound like my mom."
Andy closed the space between them, placing a tender kiss on Hermione's temple. "You know she would be so proud of you, Hermione. I am unbelievably proud. I know that she would be, too." Her hand lingered in the brunette's hair for a moment before she found her seat.
Hermione closed her eyes, trying to locate a semblance of composure before she opened her eyes. "Thank you, Andy." They would see her graduate. She had to make it happen. She would do whatever it took to make sure they were able to see her graduate from Hogwarts. She did not push herself this hard to be at the top of her class to not have her parents there when all of that effort culminated in graduation. Failure was not an option.
She resolved herself to research more and study harder as soon as she got to Hogwarts. All of her spare time would be spent nose-deep in a book or writing experimental theories. Her eyes fell on the diary that sat on the table beside her. She often caught Andromeda staring at the book, but the older witch never questioned her reasons for having it.
She could not explain her own draw to the book. Maybe it would help to discuss it. Hermione had refused to discuss it since the first night when she broke down after reading it. Sitting back down, she met Andromeda's gaze and placed her hand on the book. "What..." She cleared her throat and started again. "What do you know about this book?"
Andromeda's smile faltered as she openly stared at the tome from her childhood. "I do not know much about it except that it was Bellatrix's. She guarded it fiercely when it was in sight, but that was rare. Typically she kept it hidden from all of us. I have no clue what kind of secrets she might have hidden in there."
Hermione clutched the book to her chest. "But weren't you ever curious? I mean, her protective magic must have lessened after she died for me to be able to get into them. You didn't even try to understand your sister while her diaries sat in your own home?"
Andromeda scoffed at that. "You mean the sister that let our father cast me aside like filth and then killed my daughter? I was not rushing to make my peace with her. I love her, and I'm not sure if anything can break that bond, but it will take a lot more than some teenager's ramblings to make me forgive her. I had other priorities." Her eyes landed on the cooing child, who had managed to smear food all over his face during their conversation. "Plus, by the time I really thought about it, you were already here. I imagine you would tell me if there was anything I needed to know. Am I correct in that?" One perfectly manicured eyebrow faded into Andromeda's hairline for a moment before she smiled at her young charge again.
"They are not teenage ramblings." Hermione spewed the first thing that came to her mind before she paused, unsure where she wanted to take the conversation. "The books...her words are so much more than the ramblings of a teenager. Theories, spells, and potion recipes that have since been published." Hermione continued to hold the worn tome to her chest as she gushed, "Andromeda, she was brilliant." Finally, the brunette paused as she met the appraising look of the older witch. "Whatever happened to her?"
"Father. And Him. The Dark Lord waltzed into our life and took Bella away from us. I guess she really wasn't smart enough. She couldn't see through him. Or maybe she loved him. I don't really know. I just know that by the time she graduated from Hogwarts, she had transformed into a person I did not recognize."